Ebola deaths in Congo exceed 5,000 as virus spreads across Africa
The Bundibugyo virus outbreak has killed 5,026 people and infected 10,351 individuals, according to Congolese Ministry of Health data.
Ebola deaths in Congo have surpassed 5,000 as the disease spreads through the country and into other African nations, according to The New Indian Express on Saturday. Data from the Congolese Ministry of Health shows that 5,026 people have died out of 10,351 infected, representing a lethality rate of nearly 50 per cent.
The current outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared in mid-May. It has reached 67 of the country's 178 health zones across eight provinces. The eastern regions of Ituri and North Kivu have become epicentres, recording 9,782 total cases and 4,792 deaths.
World Health Organization programme area manager Dr Patrick Otim said the number of deaths shows the severity of the outbreak. He noted that one-third of those who died did not receive medical care before passing away. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 80 per cent of new infections originate from unknown transmission chains rather than monitored contacts.
Efforts to contain the virus face challenges including conflict in eastern Congo and strikes by health workers over unpaid wages. In Ituri, workers at a treatment centre in Tchomia downed tools on Friday, demanding four months of back pay. In Beni, North Kivu, official Alain Siwako said cases are increasing due to a lack of fuel and central government funds.
The outbreak has reached three African regions, with Kenya reporting eight cases and two deaths, and Nigeria reporting one case. This makes it the most geographically widespread Ebola outbreak on the continent.